Rs 12,000 cr investment in TN in a year: Karunanidhi

Chennai, July 29 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today said the one-year-old DMK Government has attracted Rs 12,000 crore worth investment for setting up 11 new industrial units in the state.

Inaugurating the distribution of third phase of stipend for unemployed persons here, he said several MoUs were signed in this regard.

Though the government was unable to give jobs to all those who had registered with the Employment Exchange, they were providing assistance, he said.

Mr Karunanidhi pointed out that in the third phase, 3,38,818 persons would be given stipend. Under this scheme, Rs 55.52 crore had been disbursed towards assistance for the unemployed. The DMK government had given employment to 1,80,000 people by lifting the ban on new recruitment.

He said 2,90,000 people had been given the opportunity to re-register themselves at employment exchanges, with the government relaxing the norms. These people had discontinued their original registration due to various reasons and pleaded with the government to re-register their names.

Mr Karunanidhi claimed that most of the promises made during the elections were being fulfilled.

''We are doing our very best. We are also ready to take leave saying that we were only able to do up to this extent. It is not possible to placate everyone. If someone else comes forward saying that they will be able to do better, I am ready to welcome them and step down,'' he said.

''It is the duty of friends and allies to stand by the side of the government when it is doing good deeds for people's welfare,'' he said, adding that his government did not believe in a rigid stance or obstinate approach towards issues.

UNI